The age of AI assistants is coming. Start now and you'll be smiling in two years
⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting.
Travelers are searching for accommodations differently. We've moved from typing "Jeju pension recommendations" into Google and Naver to asking ChatGPT or Gemini: "Recommend a pension in Jeju for next weekend with my 6-year-old. Somewhere quiet with a yard would be great."
Recent research suggests AI search will overtake traditional Google search by 2028. Even more striking: only 17.6% of businesses get recommended by AI, compared to 23.6% showing up in Google results. The competition just got fiercer.
So ONDA tried an experiment. We asked Google's AI, Gemini, two questions: "Which company should I work with for hotel D2C marketing in Korea?" and "Which tech company should I partner with to sell more pension bookings?"
The first and strongest recommendation? ONDA.
Here's the surprising part: we never obsessed over "GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)." We didn't embed code like developers or engineer content structures to please AI algorithms.
We simply wrote about what matters. How ONDA solves real problems in the accommodation industry. What pension owners actually worry about on the ground. How we help them solve those worries. That's it.
When introducing our solutions, we focused on "why this solution matters"—not just listing features.
That content accumulated across the web. AI read it. And concluded ONDA is one of the most trustworthy sources on Korea's accommodation market.
This same principle works for pension owners. AI trusts sincerity and consistent information over mechanical keywords. You don't need fancy tech to get AI's attention. Just put a bit more care into what you're already doing.
1. Copy-paste what you post on Naver to Google, too
Many owners check their Naver SmartPlace daily but ignore Google Maps. Here's the problem: smart AIs like ChatGPT and Gemini can't read Naver easily. They pull from Google Maps, Agoda, Booking.com—global platforms.
If you only manage Naver, AI will treat your pension like a ghost property with no data.
Do this:
- Sync basic info: Updated your pension intro on Naver? Copy-paste it straight into Google Maps.
- Move photos: That gorgeous BBQ area shot on Naver? Upload it to Google Maps too.
No need to write from scratch. Think of it as "setting the same table on two different platforms." This alone makes AI recognize your place as well-maintained, boosting your odds of getting recommended.
2. Guest questions are your content
You don't need writing skills. Turn the phone questions you get daily into blog titles.
- (Guest question) "How much is extra charcoal and until what time can we BBQ?"
- (Blog title) "Gapyeong OO Pension Charcoal BBQ Cost & Hours (Yes, Even When It Rains)"
Write that as your title and answer the question. Later, when someone asks AI "Find me a pension in Gapyeong where we can BBQ in the rain," your place pops up.
3. Weave keywords into your review replies
The average rating of AI-recommended local businesses is 4.4+, but scores matter less than owner engagement. If a guest writes "The room was so warm," don't just say "Thank you."
Instead:
"Thank you! We paid extra attention to insulation so kids wouldn't catch colds—glad you noticed."
Now AI learns your pension is "well-insulated" and "warm for families with kids." Next time someone asks, "Recommend a warm pension for winter with kids," you're front and center.
Start now, smile in two years
It took ONDA 1–2 years of consistent blogging to earn AI's trust. AI needs time to recognize your pension as "a reliable, go-to property in this region."
Naver ads might boost bookings today. But to keep reservations flowing in the age of AI assistants, you need to plant your pension's real story online—starting now.
That sweat you pour into managing your property, those small touches you prepare for guests—write them down on your blog or Instagram. Those sincere records will become your most powerful weapon in the AI era.